Week 1 - Vectors


Gain attention

Vectors are useful and everywhere. Make sure that students see that they are in retro games, movie computer graphics, maps, illustrator and other vector-based art, Flash animation, video games, etc…

Inform learners of objectives

What vectors are – position, velocity, and acceleration are all vectors. Vectors vs. Scalars How to add and subtract vectors and find the length/magnitude of a vector Projectiles are objects in motion only under the influence of gravity. Two-dimensional motion is built from independent orthogonal one-dimensional components.

Stimulate recall of prior learning

Review equations of motion by situating them as one-dimensional vectors.
Get students to transform formulas into their own words.
s=s0+v0*t+.5at*t
s=s0+.5(v+v0)*t
v=v0+at;
v*v=v0*v0+2a(s-s0)

Present the content

Video – Chapter 5 Vectors - Physics must explain not only why and how much, but also where and which way. Vector reading from scribd

Provide "learning guidance"

Help students with graphical examples of vectors. Line drawings, boat crossing river, plane in head wind, etc...
Help them begin to see how vectors are represented in real life.

Elicit performance (practice)

Students will use an interactive vector summation program. They'll be able to interactively manipulate multiple vectors and see how they might sum together.

Provide feedback

Get students to solve vector equations by both graphical and numerical methods – students will solve a set of problems themselves and then look for complimentary solutions amongst their classmates. For example, if I have to solve a vector problem numerically for the first problem, I would have to match my answer with someone else's graphical solution. Have students provide feedback themselves. Encourages student interaction and discovery.

Assess performance

Self assessment - if student doesn't pass the online quiz, we suggest more practice. They are encouraged to contact the teacher with specific problems if they don't score as well as they would like.

Enhance retention and transfer to the job

Have students create a review log of what they have learned this session.
Create 3 questions and solutions for submission to an end of course guidebook. (will be voted on). They must be creative!